Suspension: Ekiti Govt Places Traditional Chief on 3 Months Probation.

Suspension: Ekiti Govt Places Traditional Chief on 3 Months Probation.

The Ekiti State Government, has placed the Olokun of Imesi Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area of the State, Chief Gabriel Bodunde, on three months probation to reunite with Onimesi, Oba Olatunji Olatunde before having the suspension slammed on him by government lifted.

Within the three months under review, the government directed the embattled Chief to attend the traditional council meeting regularly, this it stressed would form a basis upon which the suspension will be reviewed and removed.

The chief was suspended over alleged disrespect, high-handedness and insubordination to the town’s monarch, which was subsequently ratified by government. .

At a truce parley held in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said putting the Chief on probation form part of the actions being taken by government to reunite the Chief with the monarch.

Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media , Victor Ogunje, added that the government plans to give the Chief a softlanding because he complied with the directive given on 14th September, 2023 to withdraw his case in court.

She said: “The government said it during our last meeting that it won’t interfere in the matter until Chief Bodunde’s case is withdrawn because taking action on an issue pending in court would be subjudice.

“We can now resolve the issue now that he had complied with the directive. We now place him on three months probation when he is expected to be attending the traditional council meeting regularly.

“After the three months, we will review his case and if the Onimesi- in- Council is pleased with his attendance, then the suspension will be lifted. He can now have the privilege of enjoying all the paraphernalia as a Chief.

“But if you refuse to abide by our directive after the period under review, then you remain suspended”.

Mrs Afuye, who warned the Chief against abstaining from the traditional Council meeting to avert further crisis, appealed to the monarch to accept the truce with open arms.

Applauding the government for being thorough in dealing with the matter, Oba Olatunde stated that he had always been interested in having the matter resolved because of the influence wielded by the estranged Chief in the town.

“I have always showed my desire for the resolution of this matter. I can’t run the entire town alone. I need the cooperation of an influential person like Chief Bodunde. I am ready to accept him back to the fold.

“But one point must be emphasized here, you can’t be a Chief in a town and refuses to attend the traditional council meeting. This is a wrong signal that I won’t tolerate”.

Pledging to abide by whatever options given by government to broker truce in the matter, Chief Bodunde, said the withdrawal of his case against the monarch signposted that he was ready for peaceful resolution of the matter.

He also promised to attend the Council meeting anytime he comes down from his base in Abuja to Imesi Ekiti as acommitment to actions being contrived to resolve the crisis .

“I didn’t only withdraw the case I filed against the monarch, other criminal cases filed on my behalf by the police against some persons in the town over arson attack on my farm and property, had also been withdrawn. All these showed that I am ready for peace”.

Ekiti Govt Approves Construction Of One-Kilometer Ajilosun To Okeyinmi Flyover Bridge.

Ekiti Govt Approves Construction Of One-Kilometer Ajilosun To Okeyinmi Flyover Bridge.  ......Rehabilitation Of The Ikere-Ise-Emure Road.

Ekiti State government has approved the construction of a 1kilometer flyover bridge from Union Bank in Ajilosun to First Bank at Okeyinmi in Ado Ekiti and the rehabilitation of the Ikere-Ise-Emure road.

The approval which was given at the State Executive Council meeting is a manifestation of the commitment of the present administration to ensuring that all roads in the State are motorable and well maintained. 

The development was part of state government agenda to rapidly improve infrastructure as the projects would ease traffic flow, improve socio-economic activities of the areas and make lives and property of people more secured on the roads while adding aesthetic value to the State Capital.

The flyover bridge was initially proposed from Irona to Mathew (Saint Paul) but later changed to commence from Ajilosun (Union Bank) and terminate at Okeyinmi (First Bank), Ado-Ekiti after a critical review of the traffic volume and gridlock along Oja Oba Market to Ajilosun axis.

The bridge is expected to be completed in 24months.

Ekiti First Lady Urges Stakeholders To Intensify Fight Against GBV In Nigeria.

Ekiti First Lady Urges Stakeholders To Intensify Fight Against GBV In Nigeria.

Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, the Wife of Ekiti State Governor, has called on governments at all levels, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to enhance the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.

She emphasized that this objective could be realized through increased campaigns, programs, and interfaces against Gender-Based Violence in the country. Dr. Oyebanji made this appeal during the 4th Annual Conference of the Nigeria Governors' Spouse's Forum in Abuja, organized by the spouses of the Governors in Nigeria.

Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, the Ekiti State First Lady, speaking on the conference theme, "Youth Allies: Bridging generations to end violence," reiterated Ekiti State government's commitment to the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV in Nigeria.

She emphasized the forum's significance as an opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of GBV and highlighted the strength of Governors' spouses in the campaign against GBV and overall national development.

The Chairperson of Ekiti State GBV Management Committee affirmed a zero-tolerance stance, asserting that girls and women under her watch would not be subjected to abuse, and any offender would face the full force of the law.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Chair of Nigeria Governors Spouse's Forum Board of Trustees and Former First Lady, Ekiti State, commended the Forum for maintaining legacies laid four years ago. She urged collective efforts to make GBV a thing of the past in Nigeria.

Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum and Governor of Kwara State, expressed gratitude to Governors' spouses for their support in the fight against GBV. He pledged intensified efforts by the Governors' Forum to provide necessary support for first ladies in ensuring justice for victims and promoting campaigns against GBV nationwide.

Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrasaq, Chair of Nigeria Governors Spouse's Forum, earlier commended the impactful efforts of other first ladies in the production of a work plan in 2020 leading to the annual conference. She highlighted the forum's commitment to eradicating drug abuse, sexual-based violence, and other social vices.

Goodwill messages were received from the Director-General of Nigeria Governors Forum, United Nations Population Fund, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, British High Commissioner, USAID Director, Canadian High Commissioner, UN Women County Representative, UNICEF Representative to Nigeria, and MacArthur Foundation Director, Nigeria Office.

Makinde presents N434.2bn budget for 2024.

 Makinde presents N434.2bn budget for 2024.

......Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, presenting 2024 budget proposal to the State House of Assembly in Ibadan 

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, presented a budget of N434.2bn for 2024 to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

Tagged, “Budget of Economic Recovery,” it has N222.3bn capital expenditure and N211.8bn recurrent expenditure.

Makinde said when implemented, it would cushion the harsh effect of fuel subsidy removal on the people of Oyo State.

He noted the capital expenditure was 2.4 per cent higher than the recurrent expenditure.

The education sector got the largest share with N90.6bn or 20.8 per cent of the budget, followed by infrastructure with N74.3bn or 17.1 per cent.

The health sector got N40.9bn, which is 9.4 per cent, while Agriculture had N15.8bn, being 3.6 per cent of the total budget proposal.

Makinde said his administration would continue to use technology to block loopholes. He, however, said his government had no plan to increase taxes.

He urged the House of Assembly to see to the speedy passage of the budget proposal to ensure speedy economic growth for the state.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr ‘Debo Ogundoyin, assured the governor of speedy consideration of the Appropriation Bill.

LG autonomy: Afenifere chieftain seeks partnership with Ohanaeze, ACF.

LG autonomy: Afenifere chieftain seeks partnership with Ohanaeze, ACF.

A chieftain of Afenifere, Adebayo Odunowo, has said that the socio-cultural group must learn to evolve and move with time to continue to be relevant.

Odunowo also lamented the neglect and relegation of Yoruba Language warning of its dire consequences on the preservation of the tribe’s rich history and cultural identity.

The APC stalwart, according to a statement on Tuesday, spoke while receiving members of Afenifere from Ikenne and Odogbolu Local Governments.

Odunowo was quoted to have said that “the Nigerian political landscape is evolving, and Afenifere needs to evolve too if they want to continue to remain relevant. Some of their political agenda has been overtaken by events, hence the need to craft new political agenda that will be in line with present realities.

“To achieve their new political agenda, Afenifere will have to embrace inclusiveness and collaboration, they will have to liaise with other socio-cultural groups like Arewa Consultative Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other ethnic nationality groups.

He added, “If they come together, they will be able to present a common front that will help each ethnic nationality get what they deserve from the centre. Joining hands together with other groups in the country will not only speed up the process by the Federal Government to hands off the control of local governments and grant local government autonomy but it will smoothen the process of creating new states.”

He advised the Afenifere members to take urgent steps to ensure that the Yoruba language does not become extinct, expressing disgust at the current situation whereby the Yoruba language is categorised as a vernacular in schools across Yorubaland.

He said his vast travelling experience to some foreign countries had shown that these countries do not joke with their local and indigenous languages saying “When our children travel to study in such countries, they are required to learn their language for six to twelve months before they can attend classes. Why can’t we learn from them?”

Odunowo also urged the group to organize seminars and create awareness of political consciousness, formulation of ideology, and regular contributions to national issues.

Governor Oyebanji's Unwavering Commitment to Ekiti Youths Shines Through.                               By: Comr Olamide Akinwumi.

Embedded within Governor Oyebanji's comprehensive six-pillar development agenda is the pivotal focus on "Youth Development and Job Creation." This strategic emphasis underscores the Governor's recognition of the vital role youths play in propelling Ekiti towards progress.

Governor Oyebanji's commitment to youth empowerment manifests through innovative initiatives designed to nurture and propel Ekiti's young talents toward excellence. The administration has created a conducive environment that fosters growth, unlocking latent potentials and instilling a culture of achievement among Ekiti youths.

Under the leadership of this youth-centric Governor, Ekiti's young population has not only flourished but has also emerged as trailblazers in various fields. The transformative impact of these youth-focused policies is evident in the remarkable strides made by Ekiti's younger generation.

In a momentous celebration of this upward trajectory, Governor Oyebanji joyously welcomed and honored two outstanding Ekiti youths, Ogunleye Oluwatobi Mathew from Igbara-Odo and Dr. Ige Ayodeji Ezekiel from Omuo Ekiti. These exemplary individuals received the prestigious Presidential Awards of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The recognition of these exceptional Ekiti youths not only highlights their individual achievements but also symbolizes the success of Governor Oyebanji's vision for youth development. It showcases a new dawn of greatness, where the Governor's unwavering commitment to Ekiti's youths translates into tangible accomplishments and national recognition.

This celebration serves as a testament to the transformative impact of Governor Oyebanji's youth-focused initiatives and sets the stage for even greater achievements by Ekiti's young talents under his visionary leadership.

Ekiti Connects State Owned Radio, TV Stations To National Grid After 24Years Of Existence.

Ekiti Connects State Owned Radio, TV Stations To National Grid After 24Years Of Existence. 

The Ekiti State owned Radio and Television stations; the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) has been connected to the National Grid after operating for 24years on diesel generating sets.

The stations will also be connected to the newly commissioned Independent Power producer (IPP) with the recent approval of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for the extension of the transmission grid of the power plant to the BSES and Ekiti State University (EKSU).

Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment visit to the Stations at Ilokun in Ado Ekiti, the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun stressed that the  connection of the stations to the  dedicated 33KV lines  from the 132/33KV substation at Omisanjana  would guarantee  at least 16 hours of electricity per day, adding that the development would also relief the stations of the burden of high cost of diesel which had seriously reduced the transmission hours of the stations and had almost crippled the media outfits financially.

Rt. Hon. Olatunbosun assured that BSES would soon have the benefit of an uninterrupted power supply with the connection to the IPP which would be done in a jiffy. 

He said that the stations would now be able to compete favourably with their counterparts globally with the sustainable solution to the prolonged problem of power supply.

Describing the progress as a result of the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to the general well-being of the people and inclusive governance, Olatunbosun noted that it would boost effective information dissemination with appropriate feedback mechanism.

The Commissioner said that the stations is now capable of effectively informing, educating and entertaining with news, opinions, commercials and entertainments, adding that they would serve as veritable tools to bridge the gap between Government and the people as well as project business climate in the State towards investors and tourists. 

 

Recalling that the Oyebanji led administration successfully connected most parts of Gbonyin/ Ayekire and Ekiti East as well as the tourism corridor of  the Ikogosi /Erijiyan axis to the National Grid after almost 13 years of being in total Black out, Olatunbosun solicited continued support of the people for efforts at developing the State and improving the lot of all strata of the society.